Wow - I did not expect this conversation to go as deep or as long, but man am I glad it did. If you want a comfortable, superficial, breezy listen, this isn’t it. If you want a meaningful, profound, and heart-opening listen, this is it. Do with that what you will.

In this episode, I sit down with someone I’ve known since elementary school: Catlin Palmer, LMSW and published author. I initially asked Catlin, a licensed therapist and Ute tribe member, to come on to share his work incorporating Native American culture and spirituality in recovery (interesting, right?!). While we did cover that, we also [un]covered so much more.

Throughout our dynamic session, Catlin candidly relays how his personal experience with OCD and substance abuse inform and heighten his efficacy as a counselor. As if that wasn’t deep enough, the conversation really intensifies (in a good way) when Catlin explains the role of Indigenous culture and history in understanding not only his specific clients, but the community as a whole. (Note: Catlin is careful to speak to his own knowledge and experience, and not for Indigenous people as a whole.) He clarifies how and why Indigenous people are so often misunderstood, and how damaging and frustrating that can be. THIS MATTERS.

Catlin emphasizes rather than pity, retribution, or compensation, he simply seeks awareness: of what the Indigenous people experienced, of why the ripple effect is so extensive, and of how the history is still relevant.

We spotlight the importance of identity - personal, cultural, national - and how threatening/losing it can damage our lives, our health, and our connections (to ourselves and to others).

Thank you for listening. xx

Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!

Find Catlin on Instagram @flomentum_movement

Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist

The series on addiction continues. In this episode, my long-time amiga Nicholia speaks on addiction in general and alcoholism in particular. Not only has Nicholia specifically taught on the subject to her high school students, but she also personally experienced it in her home growing up (and into adulthood).

Nicholia shares her experience of having an alcoholic parent, and how that affected her own parenting. She describes how her mother’s approach to it was especially impactful to Nicholia, as a person and as a mother herself.

She tells us about the scary close call that finally led to her father’s sobriety, after doubting it would ever happen.

We discuss generational trauma and how our current habits (and addictions) impact not only us, but our posterity. We emphasize the importance of digging into the discomfort and facing your demons, to heal and prevent generational and current trauma.

Nicholia gifts us with wisdom and a gorgeous message of hope.